News

CEUS News

2019

April 7 ~ New CEUS Board of Directors Elected Centro Comunitario CEUS members picked a new nine-member board of directors in the election held every two years. The nine members of the new board are: Nicole Miller, Catherine Angus, Agustin Pacheco, Rosalina Miranda, Jusselia Molina, Christopher Amat, Yesenia Argueta, Victoria Hernandez and Leyda Flores. Current president Blanca Molina decided not to stand for election, and the next board will be the first in the 25 year history of CEUS that will not include Blanca. She will continue as the CEUS Executive Director. Thirty-four members of the CEUS Membership Program cast votes in the election during a three-hour meeting at the CEUS office. The election was overseen by attorney and long-time CEUS supporter Ingrid Echeverria, who at the end of the meeting made a donation of $2,500 to CEUS. See photos of the election here: image 1,image 2, image 3,image 4, image 5.

Mar. 24 ~ CEUS is seeking staff immigration attorney Centro Comunitario CEUS is looking for an experienced, passionate, capable and energetic attorney with a demonstrated commitment to immigrants’ rights and social justice to work four days a week with the immigrant community in Hudson County and throughout New Jersey. Read full job description here. Qualified candidates should submit cover letter, resume and references via email to Blanca Molina at bmolina@ceusnj.org.

Jan. 19 ~ CEUS TPS bus heading for Washington DC Centro Comunitario CEUS will send a bus with community members in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to demand Congress halt the cancelation of the program by President Trump. Thirty TPS holders attended a meeting Jan. 19 at the CEUS office to plan for the trip CEUS hosted the TPS Caravan traveling from California to Washington D.C. in October with a dinner, discussion and live music. See photos here.

2018

How will the end of TPS for Salvadorans affect them? Elba Pereira was brought to tears just thinking about having to leave the United States after 20 years. Her 11-year-old daughter was born here and hasn’t known life anywhere else.“It’s hard for me to think about being separated from my daughter, but I will not take her to El Salvador,” she said.She says she doesn’t want to expose her child to the crime and danger in the country.“Three years ago, I went to El Salvador and when I was there, they killed my brother-in-law, when she was there,” Pereira said, adding her sister was left alone with four daughters. For the full interview, click HERE.

Dinora Galdamez Martinez of Wallington came to the United States with her 3-year-old son in 2000, reuniting with her husband after fleeing dangerous conditions in the aftermath of a bloody civil war in El Salvador.

The following year, after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook her native country and triggered devastating landslides, killing more than 900, Galdamez Martinez qualified for Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, an immigration program that allowed her to remain in New Jersey and work here legally until the U.S. Department of Homeland Security determines that it is safe for her to return home. For the full interview, click HERE.

2016

Full house in the new semester of classes (Sept. 25) More than 60 students attended the first day of class in the CEUS Education Program, taking English and Spanish literacy classes. More students are expected to sign up for the classes, which run through the beginning of December. The program offers Level 1, 2, 3, and 4, and a conversation class, in English and two levels of Spanish. Students enjoyed tasy food in the cafeteria made by volunteers. Thanks to all the teachers and volunteers who make the program happen. See photos here: 1,2,3, 4,5.

Spanish TV news bulletin focuses on CEUS programs (Sept. 21) Univision 41, one of two main Spanish channels in the New York area, visited the offices of Centro Comunitario CEUS to film a segment for its eaerly evening news program. The segment focused on CEUS’ work in the community, especially the Spanish literacy and ESL classes, and the legal services program that provides low cost immigration legal services for immigrants. See the clip here.

TPS assistance provided to Salvadorans, Hondurans in new extension (July 10) CEUS has begun providing legal assistance for immigrants eligible to renew their work permits under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. As in past years, we expect to help several hundred people to extend their permits, with each case reviewed by our attorney. The CEUS office will be attending TPS cases on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday and Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The final deadline for filing a TPS case is Sept. 6. For more information call: (201) 617-2466.

Graduation celebration in the Spanish literacy program (July 24) The CEUS Education Program had a strong Spring semester with more than 70 English students attending classes and at least 20 in the Spanish literacy program, for native Spanish speakers who did not have the opportunity at home to learn to read and write in their native language. We took the opportunity to celebrate the great achivement of the Spanish literacy students who completed the semester with a small party. All students were presented with certificates of achievement. We salute their courage in taking such a challenging step and their commitment to their studies. See photos of the event here:1,2,3,4.